Batman Forever
a game by | Acclaim, Probe Software, and Probe Entertainment Ltd. |
Genres: | Action, Fighting Games, Platformer |
Platforms: | Genesis, SNES, Playstation, GameGear, GameBoy |
Editor Rating: | 6.8/10, based on 11 reviews, 12 reviews are shown |
User Rating: | 7.5/10 - 8 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Comics Games, Marvel Games, DC Games, Batman Games, Superman Games |
With a megawatt cast and wall-to-wall special effects, Batman Forever was one of last summer's biggest movies. Unfortunately, Acclaim's attempt to capitalize on the film's success results in a truly mediocre title for the Game Gear.
Riddle Me This
When Edward Nigma teams up with the evil Two-Face, the pair brings Gotham City to its knees - until the Dark Knight comes through in the clutch. With Robin nowhere to be found, the Caped Crusader (that's you) faces four levels of beat-em-up gameplay.
Drawing on a huge armory of bat gadgets, you must rescue hostages at the Gotham bank, disable a bomb at the circus, chase Two-Face through the subway, and rescue Dr. Chase Meridian on Claw Island. All in a day's work for Batman.
Although Batman has an arsenal of fighting moves like uppercuts and leg sweeps, they can be tough to pull off in a pressure situation. The slow gameplay gives you plenty of time to try. Using your grappling hook and bat glide is no picnic, either.
Blind as a Bat
Although Batman and his enemies look decent, the lack of onscreen objects and background effects quickly induces boredom. The repetitive music and weak sound effects will let Game Gear fans down.
Acclaim tried to pack a lot of options into this cart, but the sluggish gameplay, mediocre graphics, and weak sounds really kick this cart to the bat curb.
ProTips:
- Sometimes you can't see the floor above you, so fire your grappling hook straight up to reach it
- Destroy the few onscreen objects to find hidden power-ups.
Download Batman Forever
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
- Game modes: Single game mode
Player controls:
- Up, Down, Left, Right - Arrow keys
- Start - Enter (Pause, Menu select, Skip intro, Inventory)
- "A" Gamepad button - Ctrl (usually Jump or Change weapon)
- "B" button - Space (Jump, Fire, Menu select)
- "C" button - Left Shift (Item select)
Use the F12 key to toggle mouse capture / release when using the mouse as a controller.
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
- Pentium II (or equivalent) 266MHz (500MHz recommended), RAM: 64MB (128MB recommended), DirectX v8.0a or later must be installed
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Game Reviews
Batman Forever is yet another movie adaptation that aspires to make the gaming grade, this time with digitized characters. The result is like Final Fight with Pit Fighter characters: predictable punching with little pizzazz.
Holy Retread, Batman!
Right off the bat, Batman stumbles. Training mode is a head-to-head fighting contest where Batman and Robin can beat on each other or the computer. However, the simplistic head-to-head fighter lacks most of the elements of today's intense 16-bit fighters. It's boring and useless.
If you must take on this game, the Normal mode is where you want to be. The large stages are loaded with enemies, collectable icons, and power-ups. The two-player simultaneous modes are also good options. In one, you and your bud work together, in the other you compete (that is, you can punch and injure each other).
ProTips:
- Some dangerous areas can harm enemies -- like the electricity in Stage 1.
- Batman is invincible while swinging from his grappling hook.
- Kick or punch all objects in the stages. You can find items hidden everywhere.
- Use the grappling hook to reveal items hidden above.
- With the clock running, grab all the time-extending icons in Stage 3, or it's game over.
Playing Batman Forever could take forever, too. Although there are several difficulty settings, you have no continues. If you run out of time in the frustrating third stage, it's game over, and you have to begin again.
The controls work nicely, but the action that -- they produce stalls. Batman uses all six j buttons, four for varying kicks and punches. Although this is a nice departure from the usual one-button jumps and punches of most side-scrollers, the attacks are unimpressive. When Batman punches rapidly, he looks like he's dancing. Overall, controlling the Caped Crusader is satisfactory but sluggish.
Not at the Movies
This duo's graphics are hardly dynamic. The digitization of the characters was done well, but the sprites don't look right in the stages. The two masked crimefighters are fairly small and clash with the washed-out backgrounds, which ruins the dark atmosphere that characterizes this game and the movie it's based on. The bottom line: Batman just doesn't give you the feeling you're interacting with the movie.
The sounds belong in a cave. Well-composed but monotonous music rings in the ears. The lifeless smacks of punches and kicks, intermixed with the occasional "oof and "aahhh," really keep the adrenaline level low.
Save the Batman
In comparison with the other SNES Batman games, Batman Forever is for the bats. The Adventures of Batman and Robin is still the best -- it's light-years ahead of this one.
Based on this summer's movie, Batman Forever is being developed with the aid of Acclaim's custom blue-screen and motion-capture techniques. In this 24-meg, two-player action/ad-venture caper, you play as Batman or Robin and fight crime through eight run-n-gun levels, including a battle in the Batcave. Famous villains include Two-Face and the Riddler.
Based on early looks, this game has gorgeous graphics that utilize digitized footage of live costumed characters. The arcade version will incorporate actual stunt footage from the movie.
It's another bat-a-riffic adventure for Batman and his bot wonder. Batman Forever for the PlayStation plots both crime fighters against the Riddler and Two-Face just like the feature film. In the style of Final Fight, Batman Forever uses the sidescrolling fighter engine to let Batman show his enemies what pain is all about. The game features combos instead of the average, everyday punch-and-kick moves that most other side-scrolling fighters are known for. The animation is excellent including dozens of frames of animation so the characters move and fight in a realistic manner. The graphics match the look of the movie-dark but at the same time ornamental. Each character has special powers and gadgets he or she can use in battle against various thugs and villains.
Who is Batman?" This was the question posed by the Riddler in the blockbuster hit movie, Batman Forever. Avid video game I players know Batman (or the Batman, if you will) as the 1 star of numerous games for a variety of game systems.
Batman has made appearances on such platforms as the NES, the Game Boy, the 116-Bit systems and even Atari's Lynx. Now the Caped ,Crusader and his plucky Sidekick Robin are making their first appearance on the 32-Bit systems.
The premiere Batman game for the Saturn and PlayStation is based on the latest Batman movie, Batman Forever. Don't worry, this game isn't based on the mediocre Batman Forever games for the Genesis and Super NES, this one is based on the Batman Forever arcade game.
If you haven't played the arcade game, it is a two-player, simultaneous beat-'em-up in the style of Final Fight.
Actually, that might not be the best way to describe it. Remember Konami's old Batman Returns game for the Super NES? Imagine that type of gameplay without the driving scenes and with about 100 times the intensity.
If there is one thing that Batman Forever: The Arcade Game delivers, it's fast and furious action. Every second of the game is the type of button-pounding, side-scrolling fighting that's becoming more and more rare on the new systems.
If you've seen the movie (and let's face it, you probably have), the game's plot should sound rather familiar: Gotham City is once again under siege by another pair of ruthless villains, Two-Face and the Riddler. As usual, it's up to Batman to save the day with his crime-fighting skills and his selection of "wonderful toys."
Even with all his amazing abilities. Batman's no dummy. Taking on Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey at the same time would prove difficult for anybody, so Batman decides to gain a Boy Wonder to help him in his fight. This, as we all know, is Robin.
In the game, two players can team up as Batman and Robin to fight against Gotham's worst menaces. Both players can even choose the same character. How or why there would be two Dark Knights is beyond me, but hey, it's a good feature. If you prefer to fight your crusade for justice alone, there's always that option as well.
As in any good fighting game, your standard weapons are your very own bat-fists and bat-feet. Just by pounding the controller buttons, you can pull off a variety of different attacks. There are even moves where you can grab enemies and throw them into the background or right at the camera, where they hit your TV screen and fall down.
While punching and kicking may be enough for the typical street fighter, a superhero has many more techniques at his disposal. This is where Batsy's collection of crime-fighting gadgets comes into play.
During your battles, you can collect different tools to help you fight. These weapons can be powered up to three levels to make them even more powerful.
Batman just wouldn't be Batman without his Bat-a-rang. You can also find grappling hooks, tasers and smart bombs. One of the stranger weapons is a device called the "Bat Call" that will summon a barrage of bats. They will act as a shield for you or even attack the enemy. Strange, perhaps, but effective.
Well, so far this sounds like a typical "walk-and-punch" game. If a game wants to survive nowadays, it had better have some sort of special feature or new play technique to it. Batman Forever comes through on multiple accounts.
I Many of the one-on-one fighting games today have some sort of combo feature. By hitting sequences of buttons or chaining special moves, you can pull off some impressive combo moves.
Batman Forever takes the combo system from fighting games and incorporates it into its gameplay.
Both Batman and Robin have their own set of combo moves to learn. If you can properly chain moves together, you can pull off combos that feature over 100 hits!
The one thing that you need to remember about the combo feature is that you can only pull them off when your combo meter is full. The combo meter is located below your life bar, and it can be filled by collecting the power-enemies drop when they are defeated.
In addition to the meter-filling power-ups, there are also special pressure pads that appear every so often. When you walk over these, it causes some reaction in the game. Stepping on a Bat Signal drops special tools into the area. Two-Face's Yin-Yang will do one of two things. It can create a good effect such as invincibility, or it can bring you harm, like shrinking you down to a itty-bitty Batman. The third pressure pad is the Riddler's question mark. This will randomly give you one of the beneficial effects.
If these features aren't enough, there is another special feature that rewards you for excellent performance during the game. At the end of every level, the game tallies up different statistics and allows you a choice of power-ups to start the next stage with based on how well you did.
Awards are given for defeating the most enemies, hitting the most villains with the Bat-tools, throwing the most villains into the screen, picking up most of the three pressure pads, getting the highest round score and for getting the highest combo attack.
When two players are playing together, they have their own statistics and try to beat each other out to earn the desired power-up. This creates a sense of competition during a cooperative two-player game. There's just a strange feeling of satisfaction when you pull off a huge combo at the end of the level and end up stealing the one power-up that the second player thought he would be using in the next level.
If you've played the game at the arcade, the graphics should seem just about the same. There is a little drop in the amount of character animation from the arcade version, but the computer-rendered graphics look amazing.
The game's music is along the same lines as the movie's soundtrack. It's a lot of dark, moody "Batman-ish" tunes that fit the game rather well.
Gamers who long for the olden days when games like Double Dragon and Final Fight reigned supreme should get a kick out of Batman Forever: The Arcade Game. Both the Saturn and PlayStation versions are virtually identical, so whatever 32-Bit system you own, you can get that side-scrolling Bat-fix you've been jonesin' for.
Gamer's EDGE
When a game like this is released on two dueling platforms, someone is bound to ask. "What's the difference between the two versions?" Well, if you only have the Saturn or the PlayStation, you have no reason to bejeal-ous of others.
Both versions of Batman Forever are virtually identical. Sure, there are minor differences: The Batmobile drives into the game faster on the Saturn version: the PlayStation version has a prettier loading screen, but it's all just cosmetic No matter what system you get Batman for. you're getting essentially the same game.
People say:
6.0Batman Forever is a poor game. The graphics are very grainy and everything is hard to see. The worst feature has to be the frustrating control. The gameplay is so unresponsive and confusing, I was tempted to stop playing altogether. Everything about this cart screams that it was rushed. The use of digitized characters hurt this game more than it helped. They just don't animate right. On the bright side, it is better than the 16-Bit versions.
6.5For a Game Gear title, Batman Forever boasts some very impressive graphics. When a game comes out for cross-platform systems such as the Genesis and the Game Gear, most of the time, the game suffers significantly in the looks department. Batman Forever was surprisingly very similar to its 16-Bit brother, but with only three buttons to use it becomes very difficult to use all the special moves that are incorporated into the game.
6.5Batman Forever's graphics, moves and levels are identical to the Super NES and Genesis (despite the fact that you do not have a grappling hook in this version). Overall it is a great translation. The control of the game is a whole different story. On top of the fact that it moves slow as molasses, one tap of the punch button unleashes a flurry a punches that can become annoying and sloppy. This is one of those games that you should try before you buy.
6.0The first and most noticeable feature is the graphics. The characters and movements have been faithfully reproduced into the Game Gear with astonishing accuracy. However, control is a different story. The limited buttons combined with very slow play make the characters feel delayed and sluggish. Punching enemies is nothing more than a delayed sequence that continues well after the enemy is dead. Use Bat-repellent spray on this one.
- Genre: action
- Players: 1 or 2
- Publisher: Acclaim
- Developer: Probe
- Available: 1995
The hit summer movie Batman Forever had 'side-scrolling action game' written all over it from day one. After all, every movie makes a great side-scrolling action game (extremely heavy sarcasm here, please). That's right - yet another movie license turned into (Oh, gosh! You don't say) yet another side-scrolling action game. Wouldn't it make more sense to use the extensive storyline of a movie for some type of action-RPG game or something different? But hey, what do I know? I just play games, I don't make 'em.
Batman Forever was developed using Acclaim's massive in-house video and motion-capture facilities. And as a result the game looks incredible, with some of the larger and more distinct characters ever in a side-scroller. The non-linear set up of the game is promising, and the musical score is sets a good mood. Unfortunately, the game plays nothing like the movie or even like a good action game. After all the glitz, Batman Forever is basically Final Fight without some of the exciting gameplay.
A beautifully digitized Batman moves from (yep, you guessed it) left to right, punching and kicking digitized bad guys. In the two-player game, a digitized Robin joins him. The result of this typical gameplay is typically boring.
While Batman has a large array of weapons at his command - Batarangs, smoke bombs, even Slippery Goo - and there's a lot of hidden areas and items, the game is missing one thing: Fun.
Don't bother asking Santa for Batman Forever this holiday season. Or Saint Nick should keep this game at the North Pole, far from anyone's Genesis.
Guano, Anyone?
The game follows the film's plot, or at least tries to. Playing as either Batman or Robin (two gamers can play as the dynamic duo simultaneously), you chase the Riddler and Two-Face through eight of the most boring levels to be found in Gotham City.
With a poor mixture of platform adventure and side-view fighting, Batman Forever never gains momentum. The fighting moves were modeled after those in Mortal Kombat, but don't let that fool you: The beat-em-up action in this pale imitation is flat and out-right boring. Batman Forever tries to liven things up with riddles that hint at hidden rooms and power-ups, but these puzzles only hinder the already-sluggish pace.
Graphically, this dark game captures the film's gothic look. To a fault. So much of the background is black that you'll think the game's artists went on strike and left some areas unfinished. The nicely digitized characters and fairly smooth animations are eye catching, but after a few levels, you'll tire of Batman's clunky walk.
Holy Bad Audio!
The anemic sound makes the graphics look great. A first-year piano student could have scored the music on a cheap synthesizer.
The highly distorted voice samples and the so-so fighting effects will drive you toward the Mute button. You're better off just humming the U2 song from the movie than listening to the game.
ProTip:
- Bomb the middle of the room below Mad Pete and Mat Jeff. The explosion clears a trapdoor to a hidden area.
- When confronting two opponents at once, use the rolling attack frequently to avoid being ambushed from both sides.
- Shut down this machine in the Arkham Asylum by lobbing a Flash Globe at it. Defeat the two enemies that appear, and you earn a power-up that fully restores your health.
Lousy Forever
Batman Forever's fighting controls are so complicated that a six-button controller is essential. But no matter how well you master the controls, you'll still take cheap shots from double-team attacks and unavoidable obstacles.
This game sorely lacks the film's death-defying thrills. It fails to deliver enough bang for the big bucks that it costs. If you must play it, rent it. But if you don't want to waste your cash, avoid this Bat-astrophe forever.
- Once you're on the subway tracks, shoot your grappling hook and hang from the ceiling to avoid being hit by the train. To find hidden areas with power-ups, aim for the gaps in the ceiling and lift yourself up.
- When you're playing as Batman and your opponent is just out of range, nail them with your Flash Globes to stun them, then walk in and whack them with an uppercut.
Batman Forever is a beat ‘em up game based on the movie with the same name. While it has received some negative critique because of its gameplay and controls, it is still an enjoyable game.
The storyline, as mentioned, follows that of the movie, albeit loosely. You may play as either Batman or Robin as you try to keep Gotham City safe from the Riddler and Two-Face by defeating their henchmen.
You fight in a very Mortal Kombat way, that is to say, using button sequences to release more powerful combos and send your enemies flying. At the beginning of each level you may also choose two gadgets to help you, alongside some standard ones, like the grapple hook. The latter helps you find secret areas with bonus items and it is worth mentioning that all weapons and gadgets have unlimited uses.
The graphics are nothing special, although the sprites are made using motion capture with real actors dressed up as the characters. The animations are fluid, but a bit choppy when switching between them, like when balancing on the fore-mentioned grapple hook. Save for Robin who looks a bit too colourful in his red-green costume for the scenery, the dark graphics fit the mood of Batman Forever.
The game has three difficulty settings which add a little to its overall replay value and it also features an interesting training mode. The training mode allows you to play as any of the characters found throughout the game one on one, or even in co-op, so Batman Forever actually has a fighting game side to it, as well. The normal mode can be played alone or with a friend, and the game can be set to keep track of the score collectively or separately.
Some of the complaints concern the fighting sequences; there are never more than two enemies on the screen at any time and it takes significantly more time to defeat them when compared to other games of the same genre. It should also be noted that there are many transitions between stages when the game loads and simply displays “Hold on”; it does not take a long time, but long enough for you to notice.
Granted, Batman Forever has its less than great aspects and it is by no means a perfect game, but it is definitely playable, if not fun.
Batman Forever features:
- Play as Batman or Robin, each with a different selection of gadgets.
- Single player or co-op mode with individual or total score.
- Training mode which can act as a fighting mini-game.
Batman Forever is a Sega Mega Drive beat 'em up game developed by Probe Entertainment and published by Acclaim Entertainment. The player plays as either Batman or Robin. There is also a fighting game mode called "training mode" where the player can play as Batman, Robin, or any of the enemies found throughout the game against either a computer-controlled opponent, against a second player, or cooperatively against two computer opponents.
Unlike most beat 'em up games, Batman Forever's controls are largely based on move lists and key sequences more common in fighting games. Some gadget moves involve moving away from the enemy right before pressing a punch or kick button, which creates problems since the game only keeps the players facing enemies if they're close enough to each other. Those moves would often just turn the player around and cause the move to not execute at all, and while most are close-range abilities anyway, this presents a more major problem with Robin's Heat Gun, which would appear to be intended as a long-range projectile attack to complement Batman's Electric Pellet.
The gadget list is selected by the player each level, with three standard gadgets for each character and two gadgets selected from a list. There are also four hidden "blueprint" gadgets.
Co-Op
There are two kinds of Co-op modes in Batman Forever. Players chose between Batman or Robin. In one mode, Batman and Robin work together and cannot harm each other. In another mode, however, Batman and Robin can beat each other senseless, but they still need to look out for enemies. Not Available on Game Boy and Game Gear systems.
Batman Forever is the officially licensed game based on the 1995 movie. The bad guys this time around are The Riddler and Two-Face.
This game is an usual hybrid of side-scrolling platformer and one-on-one fighter. You make your way through levels that include some platform jumping elements, but you typically take on opponents one at a time like in a fighting game. You arsenal includes a lot of nifty bat-gadgets, and a collection of fighting moves that are unleashed with special button combinations.
The graphics were rendered completely with digitized actors and objects, but none of the actors from the movie make an appearance in the game.
Batman Forever is a faithful translation of the arcade game. Unfortunately, what may be enticing in an arcade becomes repetitive and dull on a small screen.
Play solo or team up with a friend as either Batman or Robin in eight levels based on Batman Forever. You face standard punch-n-kick action against waves of cloned enemies with a boss at the end of each level. The graphics, although sharp, are hindered by stiff animation, and lackluster sound effects deter from the overall ap peal. Gameplay offers little beyond limited fight moves and power-ups; the most fun comes from two-player action. Save your loose change to play Batman Forever in the arcades.
ProTips:
- Use gadgets, such as the grappling hook, to take out multiple enemies at a time.
- Cover your back by forcing your enemies to one side.
Snapshots and Media
Playstation Screenshots
Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Screenshots
SNES/Super Nintendo/Super Famicom Screenshots
GameGear Screenshots
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All Marvel Games
Best Superman Games
See Also
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